By Donald Gilpin

Seeking to close the digital literacy gap among participants from Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) has secured a $1 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) and launched a program that will include as many as 125 students in its first year.

Program participants, recruited from Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) recipients, will be provided with access to training, workplace readiness, industry-recognized certifications, and employment opportunities. During their 12 weeks of self-paced classes, beginning this week for three initial students and expanding in numbers through the coming weeks and months, the participants will receive a laptop with onsite internet access, an individualized digital literacy plan, and other support services.

“Digital literacy is the ability to navigate, understand, and effectively utilize digital technologies in everyday life,” the NJDOL website states. “It has become increasingly important in today’s world, where digital tools are pervasive and shape core aspects of our lives — communication, education, employment, access to resources, socialization, and more.”

Jill Marcus, MCCC director of community education and training, workforce education, and innovation, led the grant application process and has been managing the creation of the program since the grant was awarded in June. “We are very excited to be the recipient of this grant, which will help bridge the digital divide in the central region of New Jersey,” she said. “We are happy to partner with Ocean County College to provide access to opportunities that strengthen our communities.”

Marcus went on to explain that MCCC is expecting to host about 75 area students at their James Kerney Campus in Trenton, and about 50 participants from eastern New Jersey counties will attend a similar program at Ocean County Community College.

WFNJ participants are all on some type of government assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance (GA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD).

Marcus went on to describe the personalized nature of the program. “Each student will be different,” she said. “It’s a very individualized program, self-paced with the guidance of an instructor. If the students are more advanced they will take less time. If they are less advanced they may take more time.”

She noted the eagerness of MCCC teachers and administrators to get the program underway as quickly as possible. “Since this is self-paced students can come in whenever they’re identified. They can start as soon as we bring them in. We’re hoping to have lots of students, but we didn’t want to have to wait for a cohort of students. We wanted to get the process moving.”

The program will continue until May of 2026, and Marcus is hoping for a renewal of the grant from the NJDOL Digital Literacy and Equity Training Grant Program so that MCCC can continue its program through the 2026-27 school year.

Experienced teachers in MCCC’s Community Education and Training Department who have taught in the continuing education program have been meeting and making preparations with administrators. Each student will have a digital literacy plan, tailored to their specific needs and interests, that will chart their progress in the program. They’ll be given different types of technology projects to work on, and they will also receive training in job readiness.

“We work on their resumes and their interview skills,” said Marcus. “We also will help them do job searching in hopes of getting a job before the end of the grant.”

Marcus explained that participants in the program “are disproportionately not as advantaged as other members of the community and probably do not have much experience with computers and digital technology.”

“Teaching them skills that they need to work in an office environment is what they need in bridging the digital divide,” she said. “Most jobs you take on today require technology experience. Many of these students do not have computers, but if they complete the program they will take a laptop home with them and will earn industry-recognized credentials.”

For registration and additional information on the program, email Jill Marcus at marcusj@mccc.edu.